Direction to avoid mobile phones for VC hearings only advisory, use of mobiles not barred: Supreme Court clarifies

The Supreme Court has clarified that the notice issued by it on January 17 urging lawyers to avoid use of mobile phones for joining virtual court proceedings is only advisory in nature and there is no bar on use of mobiles. .In a communication by the Secretary General (SG) of the Supreme Court Virender Kumar Bansal to the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), the Court made it clear that any lawyer who does not have laptop or desktop can join court proceedings using mobile phones, ensuring that such advocate is properly visible and audible to the Court."Contrary to the concern expressed by you, a careful reading of the notice dated January 17, 2022 reveals that it is merely advisory in nature and nowhere in the said advisory it is stated that the usage of mobile phones is barred," the Secretary General's communication said.The advisory of January 17 was issued only to ensure smooth functioning of the Court and to avoid inconvenience to stakeholders including lawyers and litigants..On January 17, the Supreme Court had issued directions to avoid disruption in the court proceedings and inconvenience to the judges and had urged lawyers appearing before it to join virtual hearings via laptop/desktop with a stable internet and connection and to avoid using mobile phones for the same.Lawyers were also advised to join virtual hearings through a single device and to preferably use a headset-enabled microphone and audio system.The SCAORA and the Supreme Court Bar Association had spoken up against the same saying that it would inconvenience a lot of lawyers who have suffered financially on account of COVID-19 pandemic and might not have a laptop/ desktop. The Supreme Court SG in his communication to SCAORA today maintained that the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana has always been alert to the hardships faced by the advocate community during COVID times and had even highlighted such issues on various public fora. .[Read Secretary General's Communication]